LA Triathlon Odds
After the ITU wars have been fought, the Los Angeles Triathlon is the beneficiary of one of the best fields of the year for the fourth round of the Life Time Fitness Series this Sunday.
Putting up a great challenge for defending Life Time Fitness series champion Greg Bennett is 2008 ITU World Champion and 2007 and 2009 ITU World Championship silver medalist Javier Gomez of Spain. Matt Reed, with two wins and a third place finish and one throwaway available in the series points chase, has chosen to rest this weekend to focus on the series finale next weekend in Dallas.
Life Time Fitness women's leaders Becky Lavelle, Rebeccah Wassner and Sarah Haskins will have their hands full with entries from ITU World Championship Series runner-up Lisa Norden of Sweden, 2004 and 2008 Swiss Olympian Nicola Spirig, red-hot Julie Dibens, 2008 ITU World Champion Helen Jenkins, 2009 ITU Under 23 silver medalist Jodie Stimpson of Great Britain, 2008 New York City Triathlon winner Liz Blatchford of Great Britain and Daniela Ryf of Switzerland.
The Men
Javier Gomez (ESP) 2-1
The 2008 ITU World Champion and 2007 and 2009 ITU World Championship runner-up is the only man to really push 21-year-old British phenom Alistair Brownlee this year. At the ITU World Championship finale on the Gold Coast, Gomez dueled with Brownlee until 300 meters to go on the run. Why is Gomez so good? Besides possessing a first pack swim and a canny front pack bike, Gomez was just a few seconds back at the line as Brownlee ran a stunning 29:05 on a course generally acknowledged to be a true 10km. Why not in LA? Maybe, just maybe, Gomez relaxed a little after the showdown with Brownlee.
Greg Bennett (AUS) 5-2
Three time Life Time Fitness champ Bennett overcame early season injuries to finish third at Minneapolis and win New York. Then Benno overcame injuries suffered when a car ran into him on a bike training ride and won the Malibu short course race two weeks ago and won Augusta 70.3 with a sizzling 1:12 run. Tough biker, can run low 30s.
Stuart Hayes (GBR) 6-1
Brit loves non-drafting races. Won Chicago and took 2nd at LA last year but is only lately returning to top 3 form.
Marc Jenkins (GBR) 8-1
2004 Olympian is returning to form after long time recovery from injuries.
Andrew Yoder (USA) 10-1
This 21-year-old cycling sensation from Lancaster, Pennsylvania led New York, nipped by Matty Reed at the finish and took 4th. KO'd on the swim in Chicago and pulled out. Fit, looking for redemption.
Mark Fretta (USA) 11-1
Fully back on form after law school stint, took 5th in Chicago and has strong run.
Simon Thompson (AUS) 12-1
This 2004 Olympian can win when he's hot, but up and down season so far.
Joe Gambles (AUS) 13-1
This Aussie got red hot in the 70.3 ranks, set course record winning Vineman 70.3
Does not have the speed afoot to challenge Gomez, Bennett and Reed when he's on.
Stephen Hackett (AUS) 15-1
Like US no drafting races. Middling US season.
Filip Ospaly (CZE) 17-1
Czech Republic ITU star was winning World Cups five years ago. On long road back, hasn't reached his peak yet.
Paul Matthews (AUS) 19-1
Modest successes this season. Dangerous non-drafting biker.
The Women
Nicola Spirig (SUI) 3-1
Why is she favored over ITU World Championship Series silver medalist Lisa Norden?
Because Spirig broke away from a hungry draft-legal pack of stars at a World Championship Series race and held on for the win this summer. To beat a top ITU field with a solo breakaway means she will thrive in non-drafting time trial format of this Life Time Series event which also features a gradual 500-foot climb.
Lisa Norden (SWE) 7-2
Gave ITUI World Championship Series Emma Moffat all she could handle at Gold Coast Finale. Won two ITU World Championship Series events with a well balanced swim-bike-run attack.
Julie Dibens (GBR) 4-1
Beat Chrissie Wellington at Boulder 5430 long course, never finished lower than second this year. The two-time Xterra World Champ has a great bike and could break away on the long climb from Venice Beach to downtown. Still, will get run down by Norden for sure.
Helen Jenkins (GBR) 5-1
The 2008 ITU World Champ took 5th at ITU World Champs and can swim-bike and run with the best.
Sarah Haskins (USA) 6-1
This 2005 LA Tri Champion is currently third (one DNS) in 2009 Life Time Series with wins at Minneapolis and Chicago. Took 6th at ITU World Championship. Great all arund game.
Becky Lavelle (USA) 7-1
2003 and 2008 LA Triathlon Champion won the Life Time Fitness Series in 2008 and is leading it again this year after a second place to Rebeccah Wassner in New York and a third to Sarah Haskins and Sarah Groff in Chicago. .
Liz Blatchford (GBR) 10-1
This 2008 New York Triathlon winner and two-time 5th place finisher at the big money Hy-Vee Triathlon and winner of an ITU World Cup is coming back to form. Took 10th at ITU Gold Coast World Championship finale.
Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 12-1
The 2009 ITU World Championship Under 23 silver medalist has got game.
Daniela Ryf (SUI) 13-1
Younger version of fellow Swiss star Nicola Spirig does not quite have the same killer bike. took third at ITU World Championship Series event in Washington DC and finished 4th at the Gold Coast finale. .
Rebeccah Wassner (USA) 14-1
Won St. Anthony's and New York City, stands second in 2009 Life Time Fitness Series,
Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 17-1
Took second at 2008 Ironman 7-0.3 World Championship. Strong bike, not quitre fkirst rate run – yet.
Amanda Stevens (USA) 20-1
Hard charger, but needs better run to break through.
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